Thorben Koop, a German exchange student at King's High School and member of the Otago Chess Club, won his first open tournament in New Zealand with a perfect score. Thorben travelled up to Auckland to compete in the North Shore Open in September. Ranked tenth of 28 players in the A-Grade, he was perhaps a little underestimated by his higher rated opponents. They were soon disillusioned, however, as he won each game, including top seed FM Ben Hague and current New Zealand Champion, FM Michael Steadman among his victims.
Thorben finished on 5/5 a point ahead of second seed, Leonard Mclaren, who lost only to Koop. Today's game from the second round is between these two, Thorben playing with the black pieces.
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5
The Alapin Variation or c3 Sicilian aims to establish a pawn centre with d2-d4. White's second move temporarily blocks the c3 square, however, so the black queen can support this counterthrust without being immediately harrassed by Nc3. 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 g6
This fianchetto is a relatively rare continuation. 6.Na3 Bg7 7.Bc4 Qe4+ 8.Be3 0-0 9.dxc5!? ---
A riskier alternative than the calmer 9 0-0, but White would presumably be welcoming complications against his 15 year old opponent. 9.--- Ng4 10.Bd5 ---
An alternative here was 10 Qc2 looking to maintain the extra c-pawn after either 10... Qxc2 11 Nxc2 or 10.... Qc6 11 Qd2 Nxe3 12 Qxe3. Although things look dangerous for Black after the move played, he seems to have adequate resources in the tactically charged position that results. 10.--- Qf5 11.Qb3 ---
Putting the queen on a square that will lend power to the maneouvre by the black knight b8-a6-c5, but the vulnerability of the bishop on d5 makes it hard to suggest an alternative. 11 Nb5 Nc6 is ok for Black, so perhaps kingside castling is best with a slight edge for White. 11.--- Nxe3 12.fxe3 Na6 13.0-0-0?! e6!
Superior to simply recapturing his pawn by 13...Nxc5 14 Qc4 when the knight can't stay on c5. Black instead encourages White down a tactical sequence that highlights the dangerous position of his king. Needless to say White should have castled the other way. 14.c6? ---
White is tempted – 14 Bc4 Nxc5 15 Qc2 was possible with only a slight disadvantage. 14.--- Nc5 15.Qb4 Nd3+! 16.Rxd3 Qxd3 17.cxb7 Rb8 18.bxc8=Q? ---
White must struggle an exchange for a pawn down after 19 Qe4 Qxe4 20 Bxe4 Bxb7. The move played leads to the same material balance, but develops Black's remaining rook. 18.--- Rfxc8 19.Qe4 ---
Hoping for 19.... Qxd5 20 Qxd5 exd5 and chances of salvaging a draw, but this illusion is soon shattered.... 19.--- Rxc3+!! 20.bxc3 Qxc3+ 21.Kd1 ---
The point is that White must part with both loose minor pieces after either the text or 21 Qc2 Qxa3+ as 21 Nc2?? Rb1+! mates. The resulting postion is materially almost level, but the exposed white king must soon perish. 21.--- exd5 22.Qc2 ---
If 22 Qxd5 then Qa1+. 22.--- Qxa3 23.Re1 Rb2 24.Qc8+ Bf8 25.Re2 Qd3+ 26.Rd2 Rb1+
Koop impresses at North Shore Open
Problem: Black to play and mate in 3.
Thorben Koop, a German exchange student at King's High School and member of the Otago Chess Club, won his first open tournament in New Zealand with a perfect score. Thorben travelled up to Auckland to compete in the North Shore Open in September. Ranked tenth of 28 players in the A-Grade, he was perhaps a little underestimated by his higher rated opponents. They were soon disillusioned, however, as he won each game, including top seed FM Ben Hague and current New Zealand Champion, FM Michael Steadman among his victims.
Thorben finished on 5/5 a point ahead of second seed, Leonard Mclaren, who lost only to Koop. Today's game from the second round is between these two, Thorben playing with the black pieces.
1.e4 c5
2.c3 d5
The Alapin Variation or c3 Sicilian aims to establish a pawn centre with d2-d4. White's second move temporarily blocks the c3 square, however, so the black queen can support this counterthrust without being immediately harrassed by Nc3.
3.exd5 Qxd5
4.d4 Nf6
5.Nf3 g6
This fianchetto is a relatively rare continuation.
6.Na3 Bg7
7.Bc4 Qe4+
8.Be3 0-0
9.dxc5!? ---
A riskier alternative than the calmer 9 0-0, but White would presumably be welcoming complications against his 15 year old opponent.
9.--- Ng4
10.Bd5 ---
An alternative here was 10 Qc2 looking to maintain the extra c-pawn after either 10... Qxc2 11 Nxc2 or 10.... Qc6 11 Qd2 Nxe3 12 Qxe3. Although things look dangerous for Black after the move played, he seems to have adequate resources in the tactically charged position that results.
10.--- Qf5
11.Qb3 ---
Putting the queen on a square that will lend power to the maneouvre by the black knight b8-a6-c5, but the vulnerability of the bishop on d5 makes it hard to suggest an alternative. 11 Nb5 Nc6 is ok for Black, so perhaps kingside castling is best with a slight edge for White.
11.--- Nxe3
12.fxe3 Na6
13.0-0-0?! e6!
Superior to simply recapturing his pawn by 13...Nxc5 14 Qc4 when the knight can't stay on c5. Black instead encourages White down a tactical sequence that highlights the dangerous position of his king. Needless to say White should have castled the other way.
14.c6? ---
White is tempted – 14 Bc4 Nxc5 15 Qc2 was possible with only a slight disadvantage.
14.--- Nc5
15.Qb4 Nd3+!
16.Rxd3 Qxd3
17.cxb7 Rb8
18.bxc8=Q? ---
White must struggle an exchange for a pawn down after 19 Qe4 Qxe4 20 Bxe4 Bxb7. The move played leads to the same material balance, but develops Black's remaining rook.
18.--- Rfxc8
19.Qe4 ---
Hoping for 19.... Qxd5 20 Qxd5 exd5 and chances of salvaging a draw, but this illusion is soon shattered....
19.--- Rxc3+!!
20.bxc3 Qxc3+
21.Kd1 ---
The point is that White must part with both loose minor pieces after either the text or 21 Qc2 Qxa3+ as 21 Nc2?? Rb1+! mates. The resulting postion is materially almost level, but the exposed white king must soon perish.
21.--- exd5
22.Qc2 ---
If 22 Qxd5 then Qa1+.
22.--- Qxa3
23.Re1 Rb2
24.Qc8+ Bf8
25.Re2 Qd3+
26.Rd2 Rb1+
0-1
Solution: 1 ... Rh1+! 2 Bxh1 Nh3+ 3 Kf1 Qf2#.